Prologue:
A small figure sits in a dark room. A long metal rod known as a Kurai Jotsu sits in the figure's lap and the figure speaks slowly.
Figure: Two years and some odd amount of months ago, the purple alligator thief known as Croco came up with a brilliant plan to conquer the Mushroom Kingdom. After the true heir to the throne took power, the thief forced Birdo, the heir, to marry him. The thief Popple, however, managed to save Birdo from Croco's attempts to kill her. Croco rushed to the Mushroom Kingdom but his reign was short-lived as Smithy, my former master, returned. Birdo, Popple, and Croco formed a temporary alliance and killed Smithy, who was later resurrected by Yaridovich though he was again stuck in his realm for another 2,000 years due to an ancient curse. After this Croco was defeated and Birdo returned power to Princess Peach. Needless to say, a divorce was soon had by the two. Anyway, a few months after this, Croco reached Atlantis with his group and Yaridovich and his did the same, with Croco racing to conquer the world with an ancient treasure and Yaridovich planning to free Smithy with the same treasure. Croco reached the treasure first and was about to acquire it when Tatanga, who he had hired to help with the job, turned on him and threw the thief off the top of a large tower. I doubt he survived this encounter. After these events Smithy appeared and revealed that he had been freed by the Axems' finding of the treasure at an earlier time. Smithy blamed Yaridovich for his loss to Birdo, Croco, and Popple and attacked. Yaridovich and Tatanga narrowly defeated him. After this the two took command of Smithy's troops and created an armada. One year later, the group conquered many kingdoms. In a battle with a huge army in Nimbus Land the group nearly faced defeat until Tatanga arrived in the G-Vort, a powerful ship that is seemingly invincible. Apparently not even Yaridovich knows everything about it and he designed it. After a few weeks the entire planet of Plit was conquered. Following this occassion a Resistance was formed by the crew of Croco's old group: Koggle, also known as Crook 1; Hinflo, aka Crook B; Laklogus, aka Crook III; and the large Koopa known as Kent C. There is a rumor that Croco is leading the group in secrecy, but I find it doubtful. I look forward to the Resistance prevailing. After the death of Yaridovich I'll be free to choose my own destiny. I am the one and only choice for a successor to the great Smithy.
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Crook 1 stands on the roof of Yaridovich's castle, watching through the window into the robot's throne. The Crook holds a rolled up piece of graphing paper.
Crook 1: Heh, Yaridovich must not know about my furthered training.
Crook 1 leaps off the building headfirst, landing on the ground on his feet gracefully.
Crook 1: Now to get this back to the Resistance.
The Crook runs away, back to the Resistance base. Upon arrival the next morning, Crook 1 goes into a door in the corner of the building. Inside, Crook 1 stands in front of a dark figure, holding a rolled up piece of paper.
Crook 1: I have successfully captured the G-Vort design plans.
Figure: Excellent. Take them to Kent C and Crook B, and instruct them to find the source of the G-Vort's invincibility.
Crook 1: I shall do so, sir.
Crook 1 runs off. The figure steps out of the shadows. He presses a button on the wall, and Crook III runs in.
Crook III: What is it, boss?
Figure: I have a task of the utmost importance for you. You are to go capture a guard from Yaridovich's castle, understood?
Crook III: How can I possibly avoid being caught?
Figure: You'll take the other two Crooks and Kent C. with you. Crook 1 successfully robbed Yaridovich's palace without detection last night, so with him there should be little trouble. Understand?
Crook III: Yes sir.
The Crook runs off. In the Resistance laboratory, Crook 1 stands talking to Crook B and Kent C.
Crook 1: So, Croco told me to give you the blue prints for... that.
Crook B: Good. We'll get to work on something to fight it right now.
Crook III runs up.
Crook III: The boss told me to come get you three to help me capture one of Yaridovich's guards.
Kent C: That shouldn't be much of a problem. That robotic idiot uses Drill Bits.
Crook 1: I tell ya, for the tyrant running Plit the guy has horrible security.
The four leave the laboratory, carefully hiding the blueprints. Upon arrival to Mecha Land, the four see a large wall running completely around the grounds. There are two guards blocking the entrance, one a Machine Made and the other a small metallic figure that mostly appears among Yaridovich's elite forces.
Machine Made: Leave this area at once, citizen.
Crook 1: I understand the idea of why you want no one around. However, there is something I need.
Crook 1 leaps at the Machine Made, knocking it to the ground. Kent C. and the other two begin fighting the elite guard. The three are triple teaming, but cannot even hurt the guard. Crook 1, meanwhile, is beating the Machine Made senseless. After doing quite a bit of damage to the Machine Made, Crook 1 throws the Machine Made into the guard's back, knocking it down. The guard falls, hitting the ground hard. Its helmet flies off, revealing a pink and white Toad under the helmet. The Toad falls, out cold.
Kent C: Yaridovich has living guards too?
Crook 1: Guess so. Don't worry about that right now. They both saw us, so we'll need to take them both.
Kent C. grabs both of the two and the
four hurry away.
Chapter 1: Resistance
The Crooks and Kent C. arrive in the Resistance base and see a female Goomba. She runs up to the four.
Goombella: What's with these two?
Crook B: We were sent by the leader to capture a guard of Yaridovich. However, there was a problem and we had to take two. Come with us.
Goombella follows the four. The five reach an office.
Crook 1: I'll go inside and see what he wants us to do.
Crook 1 walks inside. He comes back out a bit later.
Crook 1: He said to send the Machine Made in for interrogation. Crook B, Kent C: you two are to take the Toad and see if Yaridovich has done any experimentation of any kind. Crook III, he said that I am to go spy on Tatanga while you keep watch.
Crooks 1 and III leave. Crook B turns to Goombella.
Crook B: By the way, Goombella, I think you could be of some help.
Kent C: I agree.
Kent C. opens the door and tosses in the Machine Made, then closes it. Kent C, Crook B, and Goombella walk to the lab, with Kent C. carrying the Toad. The Koopa lays the Toad on a lab table and then turns to Crook B and Goombella.
Kent C: Goombella, go check the files containing the list of captured rebels. See if any pictures of this Toad are there.
Goombella runs off to do so.
Kent C: *sigh* You realize that this Machine Made will be the first living... um... sort of... thing he's seen in two years besides us four?
Crook B: Yes. I wonder how much longer it will be until we manage to hit the New Smithy Gang hard.
Kent C: We've got those plans now, so we should be able to strike soon.
Crook B: I know. I just know the boss, and I know that he wants to kill Tatanga and Yaridovich with his bare hands.
Kent C: Many wish to get their hands on them. We can't just storm their castles, though. We don't have nearly a large enough army.
Meanwhile, in the office, the Machine Made stands, weapon drawn, looking into the shadows containing the leader of the resistance.
Leader: All right, I'm going to ask you a few questions. You'll answer them, or be killed. First off, what is the secret behind the G-Vort's invincibility?
Machine Made: I don't know!
Leader: Wrong answer.
The figure steps out of the shadows, revealing a purple alligator.
Machine Made: You're supposed to be dead!
Croco: Well, I'm not, but you are.
Croco throws a magnet directly onto the Machine Made's face. The Machine Made shuts down.
Croco: I'm getting closer than ever before. Soon, I will fulfill my only goal at this point in my life: the deaths of Tatanga and Yaridovich.
The door to the room opens and Crook B steps in.
Crook B: Just out of curiousity, what are you going to do with the Toad, anyway?
Croco: That is of no consequence to you. However, all of the people not in the midst of a mission are to help build our own G-Vort.
Crook B: Understood.
Crook B runs out of the room. Croco suddenly kicks his desk over in rage over Yaridovich and Tatanga.
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Inside the Resistance's run-down lobby, Crook 1 and Crook III are about to leave when a knock is heard upon the make-shift door off a fridge. Crook 1 walks over to the door, draws a pair of Sai, and opens it very slowly, looking around the corner of the large metallic door. An Axem Ranger stands in the doorway, axe drawn. Crook 1 begins spinning his Sai, and then tucks them away and laughs.
Crook 1: Ah, Red. I was afraid it may be that accursed Bowyer again. The last time he attacked we just barely managed to erase his memories of our location.
Red: I remember. Yaridovich gave him quite a beating over that and would have killed him had Tatanga not convinced him otherwise.
Crook 1: What are you doing here? Normally you only come by nightfall. This could be a risky manuever on your part.
Red: I managed to reprogram one of his Machine Mades to act like me, and I also painted it red. At about five I should be able to easily jump back in and repaint and reprogram the minion.
Crook III: If I may interject, what brings you here?
Red: As you know, I hate Yaridovich and would love to see you all overthrow him. I came to warn you that Yaridovich is working on something huge. I don't have any details on it, but it seems to be a defense system for his castle. Anyway, the next time you all drop by you'd better be cautious.
Crook III: Thanks for letting us know. We're about to go off and do a bit of spying on Tatanga.
Red: Good. I hope you find out something useful.
Red turns and leaves. Crook III closes the door and then takes off his Crook outfit except the mask and hat, revealing an outfit that is ultimatly a Shredder ripoff. He then pulls out a magnificent broach that, according to legend, contains some hidden power. He pins it onto his shirt.
Crook 1: Good idea. We'd be less suspected if we were to avoid wearing our Crook costumes.
Crook 1 pulls off his robe, revealing a similar robe with no arms and a green line through the center. Around the collar is a fine collection of exotic feathers sewn together into the outfit. Such an outfit is truly worthy of the leading member of the Resistance behind Croco, and the one who was known to almost all members as the leader. His red-scaled arms reflect the light of the hardly-illuminated lobby in such spectacular fashion that the whole lobby is lit up.
Crook 1: We had better be going.
Just as Crooks 1 and III are about to walk out, Crook B comes through and goes into Croco's office. He comes out a few seconds later, finding them standing there.
Crook 1: What were you talking to the boss about?
Crook B: The Toad's in critical condition. I need to go to town and get some things to handle everything. It's late so I'll have to stay at the hotel for the night, so keep that in mind when you check to see if everyone's here.
Crook III: He will.
The Crooks run out the door with Crooks 1 and III running toward Tatanga's Castle to the north and Crook B heading toward the town a few miles east.
Meanwhile in Yaridovich's Mecha Land castle, Axem Red is sneaking back inside. He enters through a window and then stands hidden by a wall in the room leading to his room, where the Machine Made should be right now. A couple of guards stand, talking in a code language that Red doesn't understand, while the Axem Ranger waits for them to move on.
Guard 1: Trow istan loc lacdll.
Guard 2: Tokir dill con emob uth nagate, cowill antwllt.
Guard 1: Pellturn sidab reftich vopeld dirido yarput, noo wisaeres.
Guard 2: Foguve dran firout, edofien, timuch inuyasha ou thesmtu yeyhyedromevoo.
Guard 1: Bie dutk hsm agan ibt Bler iack, taklith wilac taxem Riand wllturn edwlle.
The two guards go through the doors to their own chambers. Red slips inside his room and sees the Machine Made. He reprograms it and throws it into the hall.
Red: I've got to make a point to find
out more about this security system. Something tells me that this thing's
going to be deadly.
Chapter 2: Hidden Agendas
Crook B arrives in the town and buys what he needs, then walks into the hotel. He sees the clerk, Toadette, inside on the phone with her back turned to him. He stands listening.
Toadette: No, no, I understand. No, you don't have to do that. At least we can still be friends. Okay, talk to you later.
Toadette hangs the phone up.
Toadette: *sigh* A girl trying to find herself the perfect man's like trying to find Atlantis.
Crook B: Ironic you should say that.
Toadette gasps and turns around, seeing Crook B. She blushes.
Crook B: Myself and a few friends found and went to Atlantis a few years ago.
Toadette: Were you listening in on me?!
Crook B: It was hard not to. We're the only ones in here and you weren't exactly whispering.
Toadette: I see. Are you here for a room?
Crook B: Yes I am.
Toadette: All right then. What's your name?
Crook B: Hinflo Higurashi. Yours?
Toadette: Um... I was asking so I could get your room set up.
Crook B: I know. I was just trying to start conversation.
Toadette: Oh.
Toadette blushes again.
Toadette: Toadette Fungi. You obviously know what I do for a living. What about you?
Crook B whispers the answer into her ear.
Toadette: WHAT?! I don't exactly care for those two myself, but you're putting your life on the line!
Crook B: At several points I nearly died before they took power. In fact, that bit about Atlantis I told you about...
Toadette: Yeah?
Crook B: The fact that we went there was the main reason that they took power in the first place. Thus, myself and my four friends feel we should be the ones to stop them.
Toadette: I see... How so?
Crook B: We learned of the Spork of Atlantis and-
Toadette: Spork of Atlantis?
Crook B: It's a magical wish-granting thing. Anyway, we raced Yaridovich and the Axem Rangers there. They were coming to get something to free Smithy-
Toadette: Smithy?
Crook B: Yes, at this time they worked for this weird robot-thing. Anyway, we thought, and Yaridovich thought, that they were coming to free Smithy. In actuality, Smithy blamed Yaridovich for his losses in the past, but we'll get to that. Anyway, we hired Tatanga to get us to Atlantis. He did, and also got the Axems and Yaridovich there. In a battle for the spork Tatanga turned on Croco and threw him off a building. After this Smithy revealed himself and Yaridovich and Tatanga narrowly defeated him. This apparently inspired them to allign or something, and you know the rest.
Toadette hands Crook B the key to his room. He goes up the stairs with his bags of supplies, then comes back down after putting them inside the room.
Crook B: By the way...
Toadette: Yes?
Crook B: Good night.
Toadette: Good night.
Crook B goes back upstairs. Toadette sighs.
Toadette: I think I may have just found my Atlantis.
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Crooks 1 and III slowly creep up on Tatanga's castle. As sunset was already halfway over, security has been highly raised.
Crook 1: This could've been a lot easier in the morning. Oh well, I've accomplished harder.
Crook III: Speak for yourself, Koggle. I'm not exactly the best thief around.
Crook 1: Well it should be easier considering that we're not actually stealing anything.
The two Crooks begin sidling along a security wall. They manage to sneak to the window in Tatanga's throne room with careful timing by the time the sun completely sets. Inside they see Tatanga with his back to the wall, talking to Yaridovich via a cell phone.
Tatanga: Yes, it seems that way. On another subject, I don't think that Red is as loyal as he's been putting on.
Yaridovich: I originally doubted him myself but he's proven himself time and time again. I've been considering promoting him to being a guard.
Tatanga: Trust me, Yaridovich, making Red a guard would be a huge mistake. There'd be nothing keeping the two rats standing in my window from getting at you.
With that Tatanga drops the phone and reaches through the window, knocking the glass out. He grabs the two Crooks and throws them onto the floor of his chamber. He picks the phone back up.
Tatanga: I've got those idiotic Crooks, Koggle and Laklogus, here. I'll have to call back.
Yaridovich: Make them hurt and find out who it was who stole the G-Vort designs.
Tatanga: Don't worry about that, partner. I will.
Tatanga hangs up the phone and throws it into his throne, and then grabs the two by the throats, holding them in the air.
Tatanga: You thought I'd be that easy to spy on, fools?
Crook 1: No, but I did figure that you wouldn't be able to stand up after thrusting your arms through glass.
Tatanga: Which one of you three was it who stole the G-Vort designs?
Crook 1: It was me, but I did it at another's order.
Tatanga: Let me guess: that big fool Kent C? It'd figure. I'd expect that big idiot to try to stop us.
Crook III: No, not him. It's someone who once told you he'd see you and Yaridovich both die.
Tatanga: Heh, it must be kind of hard to lead a Resistance if you've gone into hiding from the entire world.
Crook 1: How'd you know-
Tatanga: I have my ways. I don't know exactly where your base is, but I do know that Croco is quite alive, though I certainly wouldn't say he's well. That alligator sounds a bit depressed to me.
Crook 1: Does that mean that Yaridovich knows too?
Tatanga: Pfft. Like we don't both have our own hidden agendas. Listen here, I know that Yaridovich has plans to conquer me and I likewise have plans for him. This is the reason that I don't want the Resistance destroyed: I want to conquer it and add it to my own army! If Yaridovich knew Croco was alive he'd have his armies find and destroy every last member. Likewise neither of you two shall die... yet, anyway. I have plans for you both, especially you, Laklogus.
With that Tatanga tosses Crook 1 into the door.
Tatanga: Go out in the hall. Your friend'll be joining you in a minute, and don't worry, I won't do him any harm.
Crook 1 angrily growls and then goes into the hall, closing the door behind him.
Tatanga: You have something that I want.
Crook III: What do I have that you can't get?!
Tatanga: Don't act stupid or I'll break your neck. Give me that broach!
Crook III: No! I need this in order to use my demon powers because I-
Tatanga: Because you aren't sure how to use the powers by yourself. Yeah yeah yeah, I've heard.
With that Tatanga rips the broach off of Crook III and pockets it, then throws the Crook at the door. The Crook gets up and angrily walks out. Tatanga laughs malevolently.
Tatanga: *sigh* Ah Laklogus, your importance is far from complete.